Handbag Make Over

Have you ever had a bag that you just loved, and then the handles on it went to heck and you lost the use of the  bag?  Handles coming off, ripped up?  Cat has taken to eating the handles?

Exhibit A : and yes that is duct tape

I couldn't lose this bag, it's the perfect size, I can fit my laptop in here, there is a pocket for the cell phones, pens and pencils, and zippered middle section.  Perfect!  Expect for the handles.  So I had an idea.  New handles.  Should be easy, right?

The first part of the plan involved a trip to JoAnn Fabric.  They have a pretty big remnant section, and everything in that section is 50% off, so find something that you like.

Here's everything else that you will need:

Bag
Fabric (at least 1/2 yard)
Velcro (I bought the sewing in kind, the kind with the sticky back will probably work just as well)
Thread to match the fabric
Needles, pins and scissors

Step 1: Remove the handles from the bag.  Use they to 'measure how much fabric you will need.  Leave about 2 inches on each side for the velcro and to thread through the loop on the bag.

Step 2: Cut two strips of the fabric 2 inches past the end of the handle
Step 3: Sew the ends of the fabric together, you will want to sew on the inside of the fabric, once complete, turn the fabric right side out.
Step 4:  Insert the handle in the fabric tube (that just make me laugh)

 Step 5: Place your velcro strips on the fabric, and pin them in place, sew them on.  This will be hard, use a larger guage needle for this

Step 6: Thread your 'new' handles through the loop on your purse, and you are ready to go.

So the entire project cost me less than $5 and I had about an hour and 1/2 invested in the labor, but it probably wouldn't have been so long had I not been watching a Lifetime movie.

 Finished product!

~Cyn